Some scripture’s to help set the context.

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” – 1 Cor. 4:5

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Heb. 4:13

Judges 14-16

Verse 1:
What goes on in the darkness, in the spot-light your an artist/ in day light at the job workin’ your hardest/ when the lights on spread seed for the harvest/ but when the lights off spill seed on the carpet// righteousness like a light switch/ flip it on and off when you wish, livin’ life as a hypocrite/ a great actor a fake wit a mask/ your ashamed of the fact your a slave to you master// it was subtle how you lust crept in/ started in your head, spreadin’ through your bread like leaven/ age eleven exposure/ spark somethin’ dark in your heart burned ’til you got older// you were born again, it was smolderin’/ zealous young buck, throwin’ out stuff, you were bolder then/ the church criticized, said “you’re too holy” then/ you began to compromise, heads started noticin’// things changed but, heart didn’t change much/ fan to the flame, lust ran through your brain much/ you messed up on occasion/ makin’ sure, it’s at least a week before, you were on stage again/ you leave time for repentance/ sometimes you might even mean it ’cause your sins ain’t consistent/ but, you can’t lie it’s the Most High you rebel against/ sinnin’ wisely, hidin’ all your evidence

Hook: You can’t hide in the darkness/ God sees all actions and intents of the heart it’s/ gonna come to the light/ so repent, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might//x2

Verse 2:
I know another cat like you, you might know him too/ matter of fact yo, his stories in the bible/ ever read about Samson/ Nazarite since birth, crushed anything he laid hands on// He had an issue with sin too/ it crept in slowly, most didn’t notice what he went through/ they get the story all twisted/ compromise started way before Delilah, most of y’all missed it// it begins in the vineyard/ rule number one for the Nazarite: no wine or vinegar/ even the grapes are off limits/ eatin’ anything from the vine was a breach in the commitment// he never should’ve got close but/ now he’s put to the test when a young lion approaches/ the Spirit of the Lord fell on him like an adrenaline rush/ literally rippin’ the lion up// later on he returned to the scene/ rule number three, all dead bodies are unclean/ can’t touch ‘em, I don’t care how much you loved them/ if it’s carcass you must regard it disgusting// but it’s not so with Samson/ he found bees and honey in the dead lion and stuck his hands in/ then he shared with his parents/ sin seems sweet when it’s secret so please be aware men

Hook

Verse 3:
You got a lot in common with Samson/ hope it ends there though, his story has a bad end/ though God did much with him, he was still lust driven/ had a thing for revenge plus women// After about a thousand and thirty dead Philistines/ he finds the woman of his dreams/ but she was schemin’/ bribed by her Philistine people, offerin’ a whole lot of cream and// before I get to the point it should’ve hit you when I was going through the rules earlier I skipped [#] two/ here it is though, never bring a razor to your head bro/ Nazarites gotta let their hair grow// she enticed him, he told her/ she sent for the lords of the Philistines so they came over/ while he slept she shaved him/ no longer Nazarite, Lord’s gone, no one to save him// they put his eyes out blindin’ him/ fetters of brass binding him, and now he’s grindin’ in prison/ the pagans want to play wit’ ‘em/ so they sent him to the house of Dagon, but Samson is prayin’// the Lord avenges him, pushes out the pillars in the buildin’/ three thousand dead men and women/ but he went with them, like I said it’s a bad endin’/ so how you gonna finish yours, Christian

Hook

I thought it fitting today to choose Shai Linne’s “Atonement Q&A” for this week’s focus. If you have never heard this song, your in for a musically and theologically delicious treat. The song is simple, a theological word is shouted out and Shai explains the word in hip hop form. One of the most edifying tracks I have ever heard. Now, I say it is fitting because of very recent events. There is a dialogue you can read between Shai Linne and a fellow brother and blogger discussing a concern in this song. Shai Linne just posted the interaction last night on his personal blog. You can read this dialogue here.

Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws
What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy
What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

Chorus
Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Verse 2
Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above
Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness
Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend
Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied
Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba
Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies
Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

Chorus

Verse 3
God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits
What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus
Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within
What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation
Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account
Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

Chorus

Balance and Mystery

There is much talk in today’s Church about being balanced. While this is a healthy idea, there are many ways to understand balance. Do we mean balance in terms of giving room to both sides of Biblical teachings, or are we recommending some idea of doctrinal agnosticism?

It’s nearly impossible to get into any kind of meaningful conversation about doctrine today without hearing something like, “People have been arguing about these things for centuries. Who are we to think we’ve figured it out.”. Is God mysterious?

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” -Deuteronomy 29:29

While appealing to mystery is necessary when we talk about God and His ways (The secret things belong to God.), we have to be careful not to pull the mystery card prematurely. We have to look at all that the Bible tells us about a topic, so we’re sure we understand what’s being said (The things that are reveled belong to us). Then, where the Bible stops, we stop and worship the God who is beyond our comprehension.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty – the Seeming Paradox

The issue at hand is the idea that while God is sovereign, meaning that he orchestrates all events in time for His purposes, man is also held accountable for what he does or doesn’t do. This should strike us as paradoxical.

If God is making everything happen, how are we still doing anything? Or conversely, if our choices are real, and subject to God’s judgement, how can God be orchestrating those choices and events? The Bible seems to simply present both of these ideas, says they’re true, but doesn’t tell us how exactly they work together. So we’re left with an appeal to the mysterious power of God.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty in Salvation – The Misunderstanding

This correct doctrinal paradox of responsibility and sovereignty seems to have flowed over into categories today, that it was never intended for. And it appears, for the sake of political correctness, mystery is being appealed to in areas that the Bible is not mysterious.

Today’s ‘autonomous free will’ oriented Church has taken historic orthodox language and misused it to help it’s own faulty theology. A misrepresentation of the conversation is the result.

Today we find preachers teaching that since the Bible teaches that we have to come to Christ to be saved, this means that man has a free will, but the Bible also teaches that God is in control… and this is mysterious. They’ll produce verses that indicate a universal gospel call, commanding all men to come, using them as proof texts to demonstrate free will.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve…” -Joshua 24:15

“…And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” -Revelation 22:17

So, there is undoubtedly a free offer to all men to come to Christ. And they go on to demonstrate that God is also in control of these things:

“…having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” -Ephesians 1:11

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” -Romans 8:29

Some will rest here, simply saying “Man has free will, and God is sovereign… we just have to deal with it.”(which is admirable, especially when we consider the more common alternative).

Usually at this point the ‘free will’ preacher will redefine predestination and election, and teach that God simply foreknew who would believe, and elected them based on their choice. Sadly, they don’t realize that they’ve actually left their original argument at this point, they’ve rejected mystery, removed God’s choice and set up man’s choice as the sole deciding factor. No more paradox… just an unbiblical doctrine of foreknown decisional salvation.

Human Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty in Salvation – All the Biblical Data

We’ve already established the parts that modern free will Christianity has right:

1. Christ has made a free offer to all men to be saved, and man must come to be saved.

2. God is in control (to varying degrees, depending on tradition), and he is working all things to the council of his will.

But we can’t simply rest here and attribute to point 1 the idea that man is free to choose, until we’ve weighed all the data. Is man free to accept or reject this offer? Jesus says no.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” -John 6:44

“…no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” -Matthew 11:27

Paul supports this idea of man’s inability to obey God and come to Christ:

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” -Romans 8:7-8

“…no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” -1 Corinthians 12:3

The Bible’s ACTUAL teaching is that yes, a free offer is made, but no one CAN come unless they’re first chosen, enabled, drawn, and enlightened to truth of the gospel. An inward change, by God, is necessary. And until that change occurs man is unable to come.

Is man responsible for the choice he makes concerning Jesus? Yes.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” -John 3:18

Is man able to actually choose Christ, apart from the electing, regenerating grace of God? No.

“This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” -John 6:65

“…but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.” -John 10:26

Conclusion

We need to clarify terms that seem to have been cross. Human responsibility to believe (clearly taught in scripture) is not the same as human ABILITY to believe (strictly taught negatively in scripture). So as far as free will… we have none. We make choices, but our will is bound to our sinful nature.

The question of how God and man work together in salvation is not a paradox. ALL of salvation is God’s doing, as man is incapable of contributing. Every part of our responsibility being fulfilled is a gift from God to His people. Man and God DO NOT work together in salvation. Man is a passive recipient of God’s free gift, then man exercises the faith he’s been gifted.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

The paradoxical discussion of mans’ responsibility and God’s sovereignty was never about ‘free-will’. it’s about how we can keep from being puppets, when God is the orchestrator of everything. How are we accountable, when God makes everything happen? When we correctly understand the argument we ask the obvious (Biblical) question:

“You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” -Romans 9:19

The question is profound… but the answer is heavy and glorious, and should press the unbiblical concept of free will in salvation out of us, as we’re humbled like the creatures we are.

“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” -Romans 9:20-21

Here, my friends, is where we rest. In God’s right to do what He wants with what’s His. Mysterious as it all may be.

This song, “Whatever It Takes”, was inspired by Joshua Harris’s book “Dug Down Deep”. Much like the book, the song is about the importance of digging deep into God’s word. Voice is rapping about his own experience of digging into theology and realizing the importance of it all. Jesus is our goal. We want to know Him more. Know everything about Him that we can know. Study our Savior. Theology Matters.

Music starts at 1:33

Verse 1
I’m on a mission with my shovel out cuz sin is deep so I’m glad that he has dug us out
And its a fight everyday its like I’m in a bout, ding ding life is a ring the world shouts
And everything is speaking for allegiance, competing with the God I am complete in.
I need grace its like my faith is depleting so I’m on my face asking Lord am I deep in
Uhnn most of my life has been a rumspringa, meology my introduction to theology
Was like whoa I was offering God apologies, I want the right opinion of him orthodoxy,
It takes Moxie nowadays to choose life,
we should be asking what are we choosing by choosing Christ
Its more than nice that theology matters,
bcuz what you believe determines who you are in the hereafter.

Hook
I’m trying to figure out what this life is about,
I gotta see what I believe in world full of doubt,
Cuz even though I know what’s true to not be confused by the fake,
I’ll do whatever it takes

Verse 2
If I’m honest sometimes I feel the pressure,
cuz digging deep is not an option, its doctrine
It is Luke 6 Christ’s words I adopt them building foundations on the sand
hope I’m not him
cuz its easy to fall a victim to and base confidence on what’s insecure that is sinking you
and be deceiving yourself if you don’t think it through, when the storm comes it’ll wash your foundation through
And I’m telling you it don’t stop hurting’
unless you build what you building now as a rock person.
what I mean is you putting your faith in practice,
truth requires action you lay it down like a mattress.
so when they ask this “what’d you build your life on”
if Christ is the goal u should be headed for the Pylon
so when the storms and the waves come and pile on,
your foundations rock solid get your smile on.

Hook
I’m trying to figure out what this life is about,
I gotta see what I believe in world full of doubt,
Cuz even though I know what’s true to not be confused by the fake,
I’ll do whatever it takes

Verse 3
I wanna touch the heart of theology and when I do it Lord help me do it properly
and thinking true thoughts all the wrath that you caught,
is intensified by the purchases that you bought
blood shed is the reason I wanna be with him this is no moralistic, therapeutic deism,
this is good news headline reads be digging,
no small thoughts all thoughts be that he’s risen
uhnn so now lets make this thing practical, since we are convinced
this is God’s word and factual
but not merely a list of facts and features they are truths that inform for all what belief is
so I’ll study the attributes of God and I’ll dig deep even when my arms are getting tired,
I won’t stop until I’ve dug on this spot as I learn you are far but you’re near
you’re the Rock.

Hook:
In this land of do or die
Where innocent bystanders lose their lives
You do what you gotta do just to survive
What’s the answer? Christ crucified
Where brutal guys abuse their wives
Cats who seem to have it all commit suicide
Check your heart- what you trusting in? You decide
What’s the answer? Christ crucified

Verse 1:
To speak the truth is my main aim
And I don’t mind saying the same things
We live in strange days and cats are trying to maintain
While sin holds the world prisoner like a chain gang
If you don’t believe me, how do you explain pain?
Soon it’s gonna rain flames; you can’t play the blame game
You’re on the highway to hell, you’d better change lanes
‘Cause you’ll only gain strain and your fame won’t remain
It’s plain, salvation through any other name is lame
I can’t trip off somebody saying “He’s offending me”
I see the enemy- plus the world needs the remedy
And I don’t wanna dis you just tryin’ to confront the issue
‘Cause everyday, shells from guns rip through stomach tissue
Street soldiers toke spliffs and hold pistols
They got smoked- or take short cuts like cliff notes
Politicians might slit throats to get votes
While rich folks with jokes sniff coke on big boats
I spit quotes that make you sense your need for the Lord
And I don’t seek your applause cause He’s my reward
Spiritual hijacker- don’t have to pack a nine; in line
With the Divine Mastermind- crash ya like a linebacker
Plus, there’s a time factor- tomorrow’s not promised
You borrow God’s homage? You’re just a blind actor
Life is fierce and dark- heed the pull of the truth
Christ can pierce your heart- even through your bulletproof.

Hook:
In this land of do or die
Where innocent bystanders lose their lives
You do what you gotta do just to survive
What’s the answer? Christ crucified
Where brutal guys abuse their wives
Cats who seem to have it all commit suicide
Check your heart- what you trusting in? You decide
What’s the answer? Christ crucified

Verse 2:
Phat sacks dull brains in the Alley of Fears
Backpacks full of pain in the Valley of Tears
You rallied for years, trying to climb the Mountain of Blood and Sweat
Just to get drowned in the Flood of Regrets
Hey yo, I’ve been through it- everyday under the influence
Or should I say “SINfluence”
It started in the garden when we departed from our Sovereign
Now we’re darkened in our hearts and we’re starving for a pardon
The enemy is within- no one’s protected
Not one area of society is unaffected
Which way is up, when authorities are corrupt?
Mandatory minimums lock minorities up
But it’s not about conspiracy theories- you’re spiritually weary
Your future appears to be eerie- you hearing me clearly?
Straight from the frying pan into eternal fire-
The fate of every dying man who spurns Messiah!

Hook:
In this land of do or die
Where innocent bystanders lose their lives
You do what you gotta do just to survive
What’s the answer? Christ crucified
Where brutal guys abuse their wives
Cats who seem to have it all commit suicide
Check your heart- what you trusting in? You decide
What’s the answer? Christ crucified

Verse 3:
When I say “Trust in Jesus”, cats look at me like I’m crazy, yet
This song is your “wake-up show” like Sway and Tech
‘Cause sin’s problem is much greater than human hurts
You owe a debt to the Creator of the universe
And trust me son, He’ll do much more than dial your number
The Lord is gonna track you down like a bounty hunter
On judgment day, coppin’ pleas ain’t gonna work
‘Cause God is like a shower drain, He sees all your dirt
The evil you do with your devious crew
You’re rotten to the core, He’s knocking at your door
Your weed and your brew, the freaks that you screw
You’re shopping at the store; you should be dropping to the floor
If you make it your business to pray for forgiveness
The Savior of misfits will take you from His hit list
But say you dismiss this- it shows you’re misled
‘Cause like “The 6th Sense” you don’t even know that you’re dead.

Hook:
In this land of do or die
Where innocent bystanders lose their lives
You do what you gotta do just to survive
What’s the answer? Christ crucified
Where brutal guys abuse their wives
Cats who seem to have it all commit suicide
Check your heart- what you trusting in? You decide
What’s the answer? Christ crucified

-Lecrae
-After The Music Stops
-Reach Records

Yeah, I got a question, after the show, after the set, after the music stops, what’s next? Are we just writing songs or are we concerned with uniting a people to follow the great commission of Christ.
Yeah let’s get it, let’s go…

Back in the day I was a lunch line rapper, after that I guess I was a punch line rapper, then I got saved and sometime after, ya boy came back as a frontline rapper, and when I say the frontlines, that’s not a frontline, I’m out here preachin’ Christ on the frontlines, and no it ain’t about rockin’ stages ‘coz some of my engagements are out on the pavements yeah.
I’m out to take the bible, create disciples, who make disciples, disciple-cycles, that’s why I want the beats to knock so after the music stops you can meet the rock i pray, that you would know him well, this is like show and tell, it’s more than a show, I’m showing you Emmanuel,
So yeah I’m hopin’ that you’re likin’ the flow but it’s only so you could know that God I’m writing it for let’s go…

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what’s next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

I recorded a couple songs some fast some slow, so the listeners would know the importance of the show, the importance of the show’s not to excite these folks but make God’s truth relevant, ignite these folks.
Discipleship is our call but we make disciples, this is not a suggestion, create disciples. The teachin’ is a process, it’s not over night and it’s not a stage and a mic nah, it’s life on life Christ -
Walked with twelve, ate with twelve, talked with twelve, shaped the twelve, invested in ‘em well you could say that he made the twelve. Who made many more, who made plenty more, now it’s on you and me if there’s anymore.
1 teach, 2 teach, 3 teach, 4 teach, 5 teach, 6 teach, 7 teach more, this is what we’ve been commissioned, it’s the reason why I write, so that you could hear the truth, not so you can say I’m tight whoa…

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what’s next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

So, we write this for the right the speaker was righteous, and then we might check for a culture who likes the hypeness. Some say we keep it crunk, some say we hype man; we just wanna pump the resurrection of the Christ man.
We in the -burbs and the hoods that’s hostile, we share a common view like synoptic Gospels and you know we keep a couple young dudes around us and teach ‘em the same truth God used to ground us.
This is a lifestyle so, when the mic’s down I pray people follow Christ when they turn the lights down. I pray that everybody playin’ this song will be challenged by everything I had to say in this song.
I don’t do this for the money, I don’t do this for fame, I don’t do this so the industry can know my name, I do this and host to glorify Yeshua the King, if you’re feelin’ me you know you should be doin’ the same let’s go…

After the show, after the set, after the music stops what’s next?
Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples, will you open your bibles after the music stops.
After it’s over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King? Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops.

This track is off of Stephen the Levite’s solo LP “To Die is Gain”, and it’s called “RnA”. Stephen is a favorite of mine, as he has this great ability to handle very heavy subject matter while just being sick wit it on the mic. I love this dude. Check it!

(Reject!) Anything that I spit you that isn’t biblical/ but don’t assume it isn’t because it convicts or gets to you/
(Accept!) Your responsibility to search the scriptures dude/ it’s written in epistles: the Christian is to be critical/
(Reject!) The misconception that says that you shouldn’t judge/ the hypocritical misinterpretation of Matthew 7:1/
(Accept!) Correction comin’ from older brothers and sisters/ consider it with humility please don’t get all defensive kid/
(Reject!) the relativistic philosophy that you can find at “chu’ch”/ that says “well, what I got from that was…”/
(Accept!) the fact that what the preacher said is what he said/ whether wrong or right or whatever/ don’t try to get all up in his head/
(Reject!) the authority of a popular cliché/ if it isn’t plain in the text then prob’ly doesn’t hold any weight/
(Accept!) the fallibility of any kat that’s preachin’ or rappin’ that isn’t Jesus/ or canonized with His teachin’ please/
(Reject!) the tradition of applaudin’ for all performers/ regardless of what he taught us or how doctrinally off it is/
(Accept!) that you might actually be a whack emcee or a Christian/ too young to be spittin’ gifted but lackin’ in wisdom/
(Reject!) any promotion prior to proper preparation/ in light of the fact your facin’ a greater condemnation/
(Accept!) Cats who communicate the gospel completely/ a Savior still in the grave is confusing news it would seem to me/
(Reject!) the ideology that truth should be followed by an apology/ that doesn’t make any sense to me logically/
(Accept!) the persecution with happiness and humility/ praising God that your able to partake in His identity/
(Reject!) the seeker-friendly mentality and delivery/ pickin’ apart the gospel and removing the offensive piece/
(Accept!) the fact that the Father draws ‘em and not your methods/ but methods can turn ‘em off and be flawed and cause a rejection so/
(Reject!) the ways of men when engagin’ a slave to sin/ for the sake of relatin’ the gospel is forsakin’ or way too thin/
(Accept!) the great commission as more than evangelism/ the multiplication of Christians bent for missional livin’ and/
(Reject!) the hypocrisy that says that a woman shouldn’t wear pants but/ the church is full of women “wearing the pants” bruh/
(Accept!) that Jesus though He was equal was still submissive/ and such is the role of a Christian but specifically women and/
(Reject!) the femininity of men whether they’re homosexual or not/ the stumblin’ block has gotta be stopped/ my friend
(Accept!) the roles and responsibilities of a godly man/ and stop the trend of spiritual fatherless-ness we got us in/
(Reject!) the rebellion of the youth and the stubbornness of the older/ we’ve gotta learn from each other to reach the culture/
(Accept!) this as the end but if needed there’ll be a sequel/ so read and obey your word to discern between good and evil//

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl…” Job 31:1

Look at that, whatchu lookin at?

Verse 1: Trip Lee
In a culture that is crazy, in a world that is fallen
It’s hard tryna lead this thing according to your callin
Every time I’m steppin out my heart is still appallin
Desires waging war back and forth like A-ballin
Yeah, man, hold up! I’m hopin we can see me
That you catch me watchin what I’m watchin it ain’t easy
My heart it wants to see joy, but there’s too many decoys,
And I don’t want to end up in a trap, like a D-boy
Can’t be all relaxed, ain’t no time for getting lazy
Time for us to act, cuz the times is getting crazy
So I wrote an agreement, and I made my eyes sign it
I won’t look on a woman with no lust now I’m denying it!

Hook:
(whistle) look at that, what you lookin at?
Oh, she lookin good! Aww mayn I ain’t look at that
I’m watchin what I’m watchin, yeah this thing hard
But I’m watchin what I’m watchin – we gotta be on guard (x2)

Verse 2: PRo
Now if I listen to that radio then I would have to spit up in the swisher and fill it with green pine
And if I listen to the TV, then you can catch me chasin plenty chicks, cause, homie, they fine
But I ddt my mind, put my flesh in a figure fo
Yes, sometimes I fall, but this right here ain’t gon’ kill me fo
Cause if I had to be a blind amputee I guarantee my Father here is purging me from all of my impurity
Bank on ‘im, bo, bank on ‘im, go hard, Father rain on em ruh, rain on em so you guard cuz
Everytime I slow up, that’s when my father show up
Make-make ways of escape and I….
Tell my TV to shut up, whatchu sellin’ I don’t want it
Hide that Word inside my heart, Ron Artest gon and guard it,
No, I don’t want your goodies baby, you can keep your cookies baby,
I know they got M&Ms but this road I’m on’s slim and shady

Hook

Verse 3: Trip Lee
With every single glance, man my sin tries to kill me
So I ain’t givin in, how my brothers gotta feel me
I’m free from my slavery, and no that ain’t the real me
I belong to my God and I can’t let no lust steal me
There’s nothing I can gain, this sister she ain’t move me
Cause my God is holy, the epitomy of beauty
Bought me with a price and I’m prayin he would rue me
My eyes belong to him he’s my king and Lord truly.
It’s men who trust Jesus who can’t be cool with all that
And when my eyes start to trip I tell them boys to fall back
So if you see me look away, don’t be surprised
Cause I’m in love with my God, I got some covenant eyes!

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” — GAL 3:11

The doctrine of justification, the storm center of the Reformation, was a major concern of the apostle Paul. For him it was the heart of the gospel (Rom. 1:17; 3:21-5:21; Gal. 2:15-5:1) shaping both his message (Acts 13:38-39) and his devotion and spiritual life (2 Cor. 5:13-21; Phil. 3:4-14). Though other New Testament writers affirm the same doctrine in substance, the terms in which Protestants have affirmed and defended it for almost five centuries are drawn primarily from Paul.

Justification is a judicial act of God pardoning sinners (wicked and ungodly persons, Rom. 4:5; 3:9-24), accepting them as just, and so putting permanently right their previously estranged relationship with himself. This justifying sentence is God’s gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:15-17), his bestowal of a status of acceptance for Jesus’ sake (2 Cor. 5:21).

God’s justifying judgment seems strange, for pronouncing sinners righteous may appear to be precisely the unjust action on the judge’s part that God’s own law forbade (Deut. 25:1; Prov. 17:15). Yet it is in fact a just judgment, for its basis is the righteousness of Jesus Christ who as “the last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45), our representative head acting on our behalf, obeyed the law that bound us and endured the retribution for lawlessness that was our due and so (to use a medieval technical term) “merited” our justification. So we are justified justly, on the basis of justice done (Rom. 3:25-26) and Christ’s righteousness reckoned to our account (Rom. 5:18-19).

God’s justifying decision is the judgment of the Last Day, declaring where we shall spend eternity, brought forward into the present and pronounced here and now. It is the last judgment that will ever be passed on our destiny; God will never go back on it, however much Satan may appeal against God’s verdict (Zech. 3:1; Rev. 12:10; Rom. 8:33-34). To be justified is to be eternally secure (Rom. 5:1-5; 8:30).

The necessary means, or instrumental cause, of justification is personal faith in Jesus Christ as crucified Savior and risen Lord (Rom. 4:23-25; 10:8-13). This is because the meritorious ground of our justification is entirely in Christ. As we give ourselves in faith to Jesus, Jesus gives us his gift of righteousness, so that in the very act of “closing with Christ,” as older Reformed teachers put it, we receive divine pardon and acceptance which we could not otherwise have (Gal. 2:15-16; 3:24).

Official Roman Catholic theology includes sanctification in the definition of justification, which it sees as a process rather than a single decisive event, and affirms that while faith contributes to our acceptance with God, our works of satisfaction and merit contribute too. Rome sees baptism, viewed as a channel of sanctifying grace, as the primary instrumental cause of justification, and the sacrament of penance, whereby congruous merit is achieved through works of satisfaction, as the supplementary restorative cause whenever the grace of God’s initial acceptance is lost through mortal sin. Congruous, as distinct from condign, merit means merit that it is fitting, though not absolutely necessary, for God to reward by a fresh flow of sanctifying grace. On the Roman Catholic view, therefore, believers save themselves with the help of the grace that flows from Christ through the church’s sacramental system, and in this life no sense of confidence in God’s grace can ordinarily be had. Such teaching is a far cry from that of Paul.    Source

– J.I. Packer

From: Concise Theology: A Guide To Historic Christian Beliefs

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